By Al Scott
San Jose State used five early runs to defeat the Diamond ‘Dogs 9-7, securing the series over Fresno State (25-26, 16-11).
Right fielder Bobby Blandford drove in four runs, including a pair of home runs (11 on the season).
Before the game, the Bulldogs honored its seven graduating seniors: Blandford, second baseman Eddie Saldivar, catchers Justin Stransky and Max Shor, and relievers Bryce Armstrong, Cooper Bergman and Caleb Anderson.
The seniors also each got to catch the ceremonial first pitch from their respective moms to celebrate Mother’s Day.
What happened
As with the past few Sundays, Head Coach Ryan Overland opted to go with a bullpen game, using Armstrong as an opener.
The senior lefty got both Rocco Caballero and Alex Fernandes to fly out to open the ball game. The Spartans then loaded the bases with a pair of walks and an infield single from Jake McCoy. Armstrong escaped the jam however; getting a punch out to end the inning.
With one on and two out in the second, Armstrong induced a pop up to first by Cayden Munster was unable to come up with it, extending the inning for Caballero who doubled. Fernandez made the Bulldogs pay with a three-run liner over the right center fence to make it 3-0.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the bottom of the inning thanks to a walk from Stransky, who advanced to second on a deep fly to center, then to third base on a wild pitch. He would come around to score on a sac fly from Cam Schneider.
With two outs in the third, the Spartans struck again. A single and a walk, followed by a two-run double from JC Osorio-Agard down the left field line. Armstrong’s day ended after three frames, allowing five runs (two earned), on six hits and three walks.
Tyler Patrick came into the game in relief and worked a 1-2-3 fourth inning. In the bottom half, Blandford belted a solo shot over the right field wall. Schneider walked and then stole second base. He came around to score on an opposite-field single into shallow left field by Munster to make it 5-3.
Patrick allowed a pair of base runners to open the fifth but battled to get the next three guys out to keep the deficit at just two runs. Bergman followed with a scoreless frame in the sixth.
The Bulldogs got two runners on in the bottom of the sixth inning, before EJ McGrew came in to get a strikeout of Munster to end any chance of a rally.
The Spartans doubled its lead in the seventh inning with a two-run blast off the left field scoreboard from Neil Jansen off Fresno State lefty BJ Rodriguez. McGrew worked a second consecutive scoreless frame to keep San Jose State’s lead at 7-3.
Fresno State turned to reliever JT Guerrero in the eighth. Osorio-Agard immediately greeted him with a first pitch swing for a home run over the left center field wall. The Spartans added one more run later in the inning to make it 9-3.
In the bottom of the inning, Saldivar and Murf Gray got back-to-back singles to force a pitching change. San Jose State turned to Tyler Albanese. Stransky got a hold of one that hit the top of the fence in left center, resulting in an RBI double. It marked his 100th hit as a Bulldog. Blandford then cleared the bases with a no-doubter over the right field wall for his second home run of the day to make it 9-7.
Guerrero recovered to throw a scoreless ninth inning. Eddie Saldivar got on with one out in the bottom of the frame, lacing a single to right field. After getting Gray to fly out to right, Albanese walked Stransky to bring the winning run to the plate in Bobby Blandford.
After getting behind 0-2, Blandford turned early on a fastball that was well foul. Albanese got Blandford to strike out on the next pitch to end the game.
What’s next
Fresno State hosts the Pacific Tigers on Tuesday at Pete Beiden Field for the final home game of 2025. First pitch will start at 5:05 p.m.
The Bulldogs will close out the season next weekend in Albuquerque, needing at least two wins at New Mexico to secure a top two seed and a bye during the Mountain West Conference tournament.
Cover Photo provided by Fresno State.